Page 32 - Issue43

JORDON SMITH
250 SX / 1ST
IMAGE / LANGSTON WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Jordon Smith was heading into the seventh round of the 250 East SX series with a renewed sense of confidence following his first career win one week prior in Detroit. The North Carolina native’s stellar ride in the Motor City placed him directly back in contention for the championship after a weekend full of twists and turns brought the top four riders within eleven points of one another in the title chase. Smith showed signs of race winning potential at the opening round of the 250 East series in Minneapolis as he led more than half the main event and eventually finished in second position, but he had fallen away from that form for a couple of rounds in succession. The Troy Lee Design’s KTM rider was looking to put together a string of consistent finishes and build off of his recent victory in order to make a late charge in the championship when racing got underway in St. Louis. He set off on the right track during practice, immediately settling into a comfortable pace that afforded him the sixth fastest qualifying time. The gate dropped on the first 250 heat race and Smith found himself out front, wheel-to-wheel with the former red plate bearer, Zach Osborne. The two of them swapped positions within the first couple of sections, but the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider ultimately secured the position and forced Smith into second place. He chose to ride a smart, smooth race from that point onward as he cruised to a clear second place ahead of Dylan Ferrandis. As the flames erupted above the starting gate and the main event got underway in The Dome at America’s Center, Smith executed an exceptional start that put him in contention for the holeshot. It was
a flashback to one week ago in Detroit as he battled for the lead with the current points leader, Joey Savatgy, in the introductory phase of the race. As the laps ticked off and everyone began to settle into their own pace, a small gap developed between the leading pair as Osborne moved into third position. The race reached the halfway mark and Smith inherited the lead due to an error by Savatgy that pushed him back to second position. In the second half of the race, the North Carolina native rode magnificently all the way until the checkered flag. He was able to resist pressure from Savatgy until the very final lap, never making a crucial mistake or wavering from the optimal line. It was an incredible per- formance by Smith to earn the second win of his professional career only one week after his first, stealing the momentum and bringing the title chase to life heading into the break.
32 GRITMOTO • APRIL 2, 2017